Structures dismantled on Da Lat lake island

A representative of the Da Lat People’s Committee said Monday the dismantling of structures on Bich Cau Island had basically been completed. The land will be managed by local authorities, and parks are expected to be built on it.

The dismantling was done by the owners of the structures beginning earlier this month. Structures with coffee shops, plants and ornaments were taken down and moved elsewhere. Several signs were erected saying business owners wanted to sell tables, chairs and other furniture.

Bich Cau Island is a large plot of land within the Xuan Huong Lake. It is considered Da Lat’s “golden” land plot – an area with high value. In 2007, this plot was handed over by the authorities to the Vietnam Ornamental Creature Association to be managed over a 10-year term. The association invested in the planting of flower beds and trees and the construction of parks at the site.

In August 2017, the association extended its management time period for the island to no more than 5 years, under the condition that the investor must pay the land rent and taxes. However, authorities later discovered that no land rent procedures had been established.

In August 2022, when the association requested an extension of the management contract by three years, the request was refused by the People’s Committee of Lam Dong Province, home to Da Lat.